NURS 5354 EKG EXAM –
COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE &
CONCEPT REVIEW (2025
EDITION)
NURS 5354 EKG Exam: Study Guide & Concept Review (2025 Edition)
Section 1: Fundamentals & Waveforms (Questions 1-15)
1. The primary pacemaker of the heart, which typically initiates the electrical impulse, is
the:
a) Atrioventricular (AV) node
b) Bundle of His
c) Sinoatrial (SA) node ✓
d) Purkinje fibers
2. On an EKG, the P wave represents:
a) Ventricular depolarization
b) Atrial depolarization ✓
c) Ventricular repolarization
d) Atrial repolarization
3. The period of time from the onset of atrial depolarization to the onset of ventricular
depolarization is represented by the:
a) PR interval ✓
b) QT interval
c) ST segment
d) QRS complex
4. A normal PR interval duration is:
a) 0.04 - 0.10 seconds
b) 0.12 - 0.20 seconds ✓
, c) 0.06 - 0.12 seconds
d) < 0.30 seconds
5. The QRS complex on an EKG corresponds directly to:
a) Atrial contraction
b) Ventricular depolarization ✓
c) Ventricular repolarization
d) The total time for a ventricular action potential
6. A normal QRS complex duration is less than:
a) 0.12 seconds ✓
b) 0.20 seconds
c) 0.06 seconds
d) 0.30 seconds
7. The T wave on an EKG represents:
a) Atrial repolarization
b) Ventricular depolarization
c) Ventricular repolarization ✓
d) The refractory period
8. Which part of the EKG corresponds to the period when the ventricles are completely
depolarized and no electrical activity is recorded?
a) PR segment
b) ST segment ✓
c) TP segment
d) QT interval
9. The QT interval represents the total time for:
a) Atrial depolarization and repolarization
b) Ventricular depolarization only
c) Ventricular depolarization and repolarization ✓
d) The impulse to travel from the SA node to the Purkinje fibers
10. The isoelectric line (baseline) on an EKG is most accurately identified as the:
a) Peak of the T wave
b) ST segment
c) TP segment ✓
d) QRS complex
, 11. Depolarization of the interventricular septum is typically represented by which wave on
the EKG?
a) P wave
b) T wave
c) Q wave ✓
d) U wave
12. The U wave, when present, is thought to represent:
a) Early atrial depolarization
b) Repolarization of the Purkinje fibers ✓
c) Delayed ventricular depolarization
d) An artifact
13. Which lead is considered a bipolar limb lead?
a) aVR
b) V1
c) Lead I ✓
d) V6
14. The precordial (chest) leads, V1 through V6, provide a view of the heart in which plane?
a) Frontal plane
b) Horizontal plane ✓
c) Sagittal plane
d) Coronal plane
15. Lead II is most sensitive for viewing the activity of the:
a) Right ventricle
b) Left ventricle
c) Inferior wall of the heart ✓
d) Anterior wall of the heart
Section 2: Sinus Rhythms & Dysrhythmias (Questions 16-30)
16. A normal sinus rhythm is characterized by all of the following EXCEPT:
a) A regular rhythm
b) A PR interval of 0.12-0.20 seconds
c) A QRS complex < 0.12 seconds
d) A heart rate of 50 bpm ✓
17. Sinus arrhythmia is defined by:
a) An irregular rhythm that varies with respiration ✓
, b) A consistently fast heart rate > 100 bpm
c) The absence of P waves
d) A prolonged PR interval
18. Sinus tachycardia is present when the heart rate is greater than:
a) 60 bpm
b) 80 bpm
c) 100 bpm ✓
d) 150 bpm
19. A common, non-cardiac cause of sinus tachycardia is:
a) Hypothermia
b) Beta-blocker medication
c) Fever ✓
d) Increased intracranial pressure
20. Sinus bradycardia is present when the heart rate is less than:
a) 100 bpm
b) 80 bpm
c) 60 bpm ✓
d) 40 bpm
21. A patient with a heart rate of 45 bpm, a regular rhythm, and a normal P wave before
each QRS is in:
a) Sinus arrest
b) Sinus bradycardia ✓
c) Junctional rhythm
d) Complete heart block
22. Sinus arrest is characterized on the EKG by:
a) A progressively lengthening PR interval
b) An abrupt, prolonged absence of P waves ✓
c) Inverted P waves
d) Wide, bizarre QRS complexes
23. A rhythm originating from the AV junction will typically show:
a) Tall, peaked P waves
b) Inverted P waves in lead II ✓
c) A sawtooth pattern
d) A variable PR interval
COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE &
CONCEPT REVIEW (2025
EDITION)
NURS 5354 EKG Exam: Study Guide & Concept Review (2025 Edition)
Section 1: Fundamentals & Waveforms (Questions 1-15)
1. The primary pacemaker of the heart, which typically initiates the electrical impulse, is
the:
a) Atrioventricular (AV) node
b) Bundle of His
c) Sinoatrial (SA) node ✓
d) Purkinje fibers
2. On an EKG, the P wave represents:
a) Ventricular depolarization
b) Atrial depolarization ✓
c) Ventricular repolarization
d) Atrial repolarization
3. The period of time from the onset of atrial depolarization to the onset of ventricular
depolarization is represented by the:
a) PR interval ✓
b) QT interval
c) ST segment
d) QRS complex
4. A normal PR interval duration is:
a) 0.04 - 0.10 seconds
b) 0.12 - 0.20 seconds ✓
, c) 0.06 - 0.12 seconds
d) < 0.30 seconds
5. The QRS complex on an EKG corresponds directly to:
a) Atrial contraction
b) Ventricular depolarization ✓
c) Ventricular repolarization
d) The total time for a ventricular action potential
6. A normal QRS complex duration is less than:
a) 0.12 seconds ✓
b) 0.20 seconds
c) 0.06 seconds
d) 0.30 seconds
7. The T wave on an EKG represents:
a) Atrial repolarization
b) Ventricular depolarization
c) Ventricular repolarization ✓
d) The refractory period
8. Which part of the EKG corresponds to the period when the ventricles are completely
depolarized and no electrical activity is recorded?
a) PR segment
b) ST segment ✓
c) TP segment
d) QT interval
9. The QT interval represents the total time for:
a) Atrial depolarization and repolarization
b) Ventricular depolarization only
c) Ventricular depolarization and repolarization ✓
d) The impulse to travel from the SA node to the Purkinje fibers
10. The isoelectric line (baseline) on an EKG is most accurately identified as the:
a) Peak of the T wave
b) ST segment
c) TP segment ✓
d) QRS complex
, 11. Depolarization of the interventricular septum is typically represented by which wave on
the EKG?
a) P wave
b) T wave
c) Q wave ✓
d) U wave
12. The U wave, when present, is thought to represent:
a) Early atrial depolarization
b) Repolarization of the Purkinje fibers ✓
c) Delayed ventricular depolarization
d) An artifact
13. Which lead is considered a bipolar limb lead?
a) aVR
b) V1
c) Lead I ✓
d) V6
14. The precordial (chest) leads, V1 through V6, provide a view of the heart in which plane?
a) Frontal plane
b) Horizontal plane ✓
c) Sagittal plane
d) Coronal plane
15. Lead II is most sensitive for viewing the activity of the:
a) Right ventricle
b) Left ventricle
c) Inferior wall of the heart ✓
d) Anterior wall of the heart
Section 2: Sinus Rhythms & Dysrhythmias (Questions 16-30)
16. A normal sinus rhythm is characterized by all of the following EXCEPT:
a) A regular rhythm
b) A PR interval of 0.12-0.20 seconds
c) A QRS complex < 0.12 seconds
d) A heart rate of 50 bpm ✓
17. Sinus arrhythmia is defined by:
a) An irregular rhythm that varies with respiration ✓
, b) A consistently fast heart rate > 100 bpm
c) The absence of P waves
d) A prolonged PR interval
18. Sinus tachycardia is present when the heart rate is greater than:
a) 60 bpm
b) 80 bpm
c) 100 bpm ✓
d) 150 bpm
19. A common, non-cardiac cause of sinus tachycardia is:
a) Hypothermia
b) Beta-blocker medication
c) Fever ✓
d) Increased intracranial pressure
20. Sinus bradycardia is present when the heart rate is less than:
a) 100 bpm
b) 80 bpm
c) 60 bpm ✓
d) 40 bpm
21. A patient with a heart rate of 45 bpm, a regular rhythm, and a normal P wave before
each QRS is in:
a) Sinus arrest
b) Sinus bradycardia ✓
c) Junctional rhythm
d) Complete heart block
22. Sinus arrest is characterized on the EKG by:
a) A progressively lengthening PR interval
b) An abrupt, prolonged absence of P waves ✓
c) Inverted P waves
d) Wide, bizarre QRS complexes
23. A rhythm originating from the AV junction will typically show:
a) Tall, peaked P waves
b) Inverted P waves in lead II ✓
c) A sawtooth pattern
d) A variable PR interval
